No title since 1966
Lionel Messi and Argentina on the verge of history – England World Cup drought continues
©IMAGO
England have failed to reach their first World Cup final since 1966. On Wednesday, the Three Lions were knocked out by World Cup winners Argentina (2-1) thanks to goals by Enzo Fernández (85’) and Lautaro Martínez (90+2’). It was a come-from-behind win as Anthony Gordon (55’) gave England the lead. The result means that Argentina can become the first nation since Brazil (1958 and 1962) to defend the World Cup.
Club Comparison
England
Argentina
UEFA Nations League A
World Cup
€1.36bn
Market Value
€807.50m
National Team
League Level
National Team
0
Expenditures 26/27
0
Thomas Tuchel
Managers
Lionel Scaloni
Full Club Comparison
An argument could be made that Argentina, with Lionel Messi, are now on the verge of becoming the greatest national team in history. Not only have Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, but they also won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. Now they have the historic chance to win four international trophies in a row. One of the big drivers of the success has been none other than Messi.
Messi, in fact, was the man of the match once again. Although he didn’t score, Messi provided assists for both goals. That brings Messi’s tournament total to eight goals and four assists. The striker, therefore, leads Kylian Mbappé, who has scored eight goals and three assists at the World Cup. Mbappé will be in action in the third-place final in Miami against England on Saturday and could, in theory, still win the Golden Boot.
Player Comparison
Lionel Messi
Kylian Mbappé
Inter Miami CF
Real Madrid
€15.00m
Market Value
€180.00m
39
Age
27
Right Winger
Position
Centre-Forward
31/12/2028
Contract until
30/06/2029
Full Player Comparison
Messi leads Golden Boot race – What went wrong for England?
Not that Messi would care. The 39-year-old Inter Miami CF star is now playing for destiny when Argentina meet Spain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Spain managed to eliminate France (2-0) in the other semifinal yesterday. The Spanish, in fact, have been the most clinical team at this World Cup. The way La Roja dissected France yesterday was close to perfection.
Club Comparison
Argentina
Spain
World Cup
UEFA Nations League A
€807.50m
Market Value
€1.22bn
National Team
League Level
National Team
0
Expenditures 26/27
0
Lionel Scaloni
Managers
Luis de la Fuente
Full Club Comparison
Argentina, in the meantime, have worked their way through this tournament with something close to tenacity. La Albiceleste needed extra time to defeat Carbo Verde (3-2 a.e.t), overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Egypt (3-2) and needed extra time to beat Switzerland (3-1 a.e.t.). Against England once again, Argentina had to come from behind to secure victory. The architect was Messi, and the head coach Lionel Scaloni, whose substitutions turned the tide.
2026 World Cup
All results and statistics at a glance
As for England, the Three Lions stopped playing after taking the lead. Indeed, Thomas Tuchel will take some rightful criticism for his substitutions in the second half. England were too passive, didn’t create enough chances, and were cornered by a team that, on paper at least, was less physical and less dominant than they were. The post-mortem on England will certainly be brutal once again, but the game against Argentina also highlighted that, perhaps, at the top end, Tuchel’s team was just not good enough.
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